The oldest memory I have of celebrating Eid Al-Fitr is framed up on a wall in my home. It’s got three-year-old me in a black baju kurung with gold embellishments, matched to my mother’s. It was one of the rare few times the whole family colour-coordinated for the festivities. And yet, that’s all I’ve got to show from Hari Raya Aidilfitri that year—worlds apart from today, when the sheer number of memories I could capture and immortalise for years to come is infinite. What with our personal smartphones all well within reach, snapping a candid moment of family members laughing at a granddad joke or choosing to record a video of the boisterous and jovial events of the day wouldn’t be beyond anyone.
After all, when our personal devices boast capabilities so good—like the iPhone 15’s unrivalled camera—the possibilities are endless. But whilst some of us may have figured out the entry-level hacks to the trusty camera in our pockets, a little self-experimentation will reveal that the iPhone 15 camera’s prowess is truly more extensive than the layman could ever have imagined possible. Since there is no better hour than just before Eid to master them all, we consulted the expert knowledge of the region’s best photographers and content creators to impart us with their top tips for memorialising Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year.
Portrait mode is your best friend
On Eid, the day beckons a great deal of feasting, meeting extended family folk and of course, turning up in our most festive garb. For which, the decade-prevailing desire to capture a shot of, has never waned. So begins the quest to get the perfect #OOTD, or in today’s terms, ‘the fit’ shot. For those who fancy a bolder photoshoot experience, make full use of the Next-Generation Portrait mode on your iPhone 15 camera, which utilises a depth-of-field effect that not only enhances the subject of your portrait in a cascade of light, but subtly blurs out the background to an artful effect. For added panache, consider utilising the telephoto lens on 2x—just to really frame and contrast the details of your subject’s outfit to its surroundings. According to photojournalist Annice Lyn, it brings you closer to the subject and breaks past an initial barrier that may have previously been there. Maybe they’re an estranged cousin or a brother-in-law you share little words with. Whatever the case, “the 2x telephoto lens enhances perspective, facilitating the creation of visually stunning narratives by connecting deeply with subjects, conveying authenticity and emotion in a more intimate and closer manner.”
Of course, some of the best Hari Raya shots involve taking fit pics with your loved ones at the start of the day. For the brother-sister duos out there, let your photographer snap away—as long as you’re in Portrait mode, you can edit the focus of your images in post-production. Simply head to Photos, select the portrait to be edited, and tap on the background or the other half of the image which you prefer to be the focus of the image.
The Gen Z selfie just got a family-friendly upgrade
Tell us you’re a Gen Z without telling us you’re a Gen Z. There’s no better way to do exactly that than to whip out the 0.5 photo lens and call for a selfie—whilst knowing you have the best ultra-wide camera with the iPhone 15 on hand. But what if dad wants to try out the funky little trick too ? Then it’s time for the all-time cheat sheet. Tap onto the iPhone’s trusty aide: the Apple Watch.
By combining the Double Tap and Camera Remote functions on your handy wrist gadget, you can see the camera’s view on your end, in order to guide your father to framing the perfect family selfie. The Apple Watch Series 9’s Double Tap function will also allow you to snap it remotely without clicking on the side buttons of your mobile device (whilst you pretend that dad did indeed snap them all).
Upgrade the family portrait
Rather than the standard front-facing sofa shot, think about how you can best frame your subjects for the all-eternal family portrait. Sometimes, all it takes is a switch-up in angles and arrangement. For example, instead of having them all seated on the sofa, play with your levels and have your family members each take their places around a dedicated location. So your sister could be seated on the ground leaning on your mother’s lap, whilst your brother could stand next to the edge of a sofa. According to photographer Muhd Hidayatullah, it’s important to familiarise yourself with your subjects so you can highlight their best features and achieve the perfect shot. “Ensure your phone is held steadily and your subjects are well-framed in the centre for a clean portrait,” he adds.
Timing is everything
Another key moment on every Eid morning? Asking for forgiveness from our elders. But ask any Muslim around you and they’ll let you in on a well-known secret: it’s almost always an ugly affair where more than one party is sobbing away. Yet with it being such a crucial moment of the festivities, perhaps a little strategic framing will give you the lens to quietly capture the moment for your brother or sister who is left unaware.
First things first, set up your shot from a side—and possibly less frontal angle. Look into making sure that your Grid and Level is turned on in your Camera settings; this will help you compose your shot so that the most important moment is captured directly in the centre of your frame. Pay heed to your surroundings and use your familial intuition to know when to go in for the golden shot. “Timing is crucial. Be in the right place at the right moment to capture genuine emotions and reactions. Focus on framing these key elements to truly immortalise the moment,” offers Muhd.
Fun in motion
With the hubbub of the occasion, it’s understandable that you would want to memorialise this particular Hari Raya Aidilfitri with the favourite format of today: a snappy reel, shot in 9×16. Between videos of your mother cooking and the multiple house visits you may be making in the latter half of the day, the narrative is yours to direct. If you’re choosing to document the whole extended family on camera, consider utilising the superior technical capability of the iPhone 15 camera’s Action mode—which grants smooth hand-held videos even if you’re getting all excited whilst swinging around with your loved ones. Seasoned video content creator Umar Naqshbandi chimes in: “For me, shooting on my iPhone feels like second nature; almost like an extension of my eyes. I love to focus on dynamic movement to tell a story, capture memories or create art in video—and action mode has revolutionised how dynamic moving shots can be taken. It gives me the ability to focus on composition and movement rather than being worried about stability.”
Another stellar video function to add to the mix? Using continuous zoom—but in Cinematic mode. Not only can you zoom in and out seamlessly whilst having total control over the depth of field and the focus of your shot, you’ll be able to shoot in 4K HDR—which essentially grants you the highest resolution for clever transitions and edits after. With your mum putting her best efforts into her quintessential beef rendang, you’ll know you can play around with the colours of the dish and do a grand reveal with your camera, by simply zooming out from a bowl or wok and putting the focus on the ingredients around the cooking station. A pro-tip? Always end off with a blurred out or speed snap away from your subject—so you’ll have a seamless time in post-production.
All photos are shot on the iPhone 15 Pro.
